Beechcraft P35 N222V

Summary

On 26 January 2005 at about 00:30 local time, a Beechcraft P35 registered N222V, operated by Robert K. Stimmel, was involved in an accident near Willits, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 January 2005 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Willits, California, United States

Nearest airport

Ukiah Muni (UKI)

Coordinates

39.3514, -123.2694

Aircraft

Beechcraft P35

Registration

N222V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert K. Stimmel

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Renton → Lakeport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX05FA076

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an instrument landing approach, resulting in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were turbulence, and the pilot's diverted attention.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After encountering severe turbulence during an IFR localizer approach, the pilot was not able to maintain control of the airplane, and impacted trees and mountainous terrain. He was diverting from another airport due to weather and turbulence. The pilot said that he was established on the localizer approach at 4,000 feet msl, when he felt a jolt and heard a loud noise. The jolt he attributed to severe turbulence. He looked into the cabin area to see what had fallen, and when he looked back at the instruments, the airplane was in an unusual attitude, descending at a steep bank angle and a high airspeed. He leveled the wings, reduced the power, and raised the nose of the airplane to stop the descent. The pilot reported that he was attempting to reestablish the flight on the localizer when he saw trees directly in front of him. He raised the nose and impacted the trees. There was a deep low-pressure system with an occluded front off the Pacific coast with an extensive area of clouds and precipitation. Conditions at the destination airport and alternate airport where the pilot diverted to after a missed approach attempt were IFR to MVFR. The alternate airport also reported an overcast ceiling of 2,800 feet agl, with light and continuous rain. Prior to the accident there was a turbulence report of light chop; however, no forecasts for turbulence had been issued. Shortly after the accident an AIRMET was issued, which advised for occasional moderate turbulence below 12,000 feet over the accident area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.